UNDP Jobs - 71948- Consultant for Development of Shared Service Cente

Consultant for Development of Shared Service Center

Location :

Zagreb, CROATIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

09-May-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

estimated June 1, 2017 – December 31, 2017

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

up to 140 working days

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The PARCS project (Project Strengthening the Institutional and Financial Sustainability of the National Protected Area System) is nationally implemented (NIM) by the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MEE) and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Croatia over a period of four years (2014 – 2017). The UNDP monitors the implementation of the project, reviews progress in the realization of the project outputs, and ensures the proper use of UNDP/GEF funds. Working in close cooperation with MEE, the UNDP (CO) provides support services to the project - including procurement, contracting of service providers, human resources management and financial services - in accordance with the relevant UNDP Rules and Procedures and Results-Based Management (RBM) guidelines.

The MEE designated a senior official to act as the Project Director (PARCS PD) that will provide the strategic oversight and guidance to project implementation. A Project Implementation Unit (PARCS PIU) is hired by UNDP and is responsible to ensure that the project is implemented and administered to the satisfaction of UNDP and MEE. The PIU is led and supervised by Project Manager (PARCS PM), that plays a key role in driving and managing the project and managing all project inputs and activities. PARCS PM is directly responsible to UNDP and PD, and operates under their supervision and instructions. The PARCS PIU is technically supported by contracted national and international experts and service providers.

The PARCS project is organized and implemented into two components.
The first component (institutional component) of the project is focused on improving the current institutional framework of national protected areas to address its key systemic and institutional weaknesses (weak coordination, limited performance accountability, duplication of efforts, cost-inefficiencies and inequitable distribution of funds).
The second component (financial component) of the project is focused on improving the financial sustainability of the national protected areas to ensure that they have adequate financial resources to cover the full costs of their management.

As part of the activities under the first component the PARCS project is providing the assistance to MEE in the process of establishment of the shared centralized support organizational structure that will provide assistance services for all the individual nature and national parks in Croatia, a kind of a ‘shared service center’ (SSC) with the goal of reducing duplication of efforts, and improving the cost-effectiveness in the national protected areas.

In line with these efforts the MEE has started the process of changing the way the Public institutions that govern the protected areas (PIs) are using the available incomes received as donations without defined specific purpose and their other own incomes such as revenue from sales of tickets, souvenirs, renting of the equipment and similar. The changes will be introduced in the form of a By-law (a rulebook) that defines that a PIs have to deposit the certain percentage of the available incomes to a separate shared account called the Joint fund for Parks of Croatia (in further text the Fund).

The details on the by-law can be found on the Governments web page for consulting with the wider public: e-savjetovanje (https://esavjetovanja.gov.hr/Econ/MainScreen?entityId=4958).
The financial means available in the Joint Fund for Parks of Croatia will be used for provision of specific technical and professional support services (such as assistance in the field of legal advising, public procurement, marketing, branding, communication, fund raising, project development, and similar) and for direct financial support of implementation of different high priority activities within the PIs and co-financing of nature and biodiversity protection projects in cooperation with Croatian Environment Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund.

The adoption of the by-law and start of the activities on collecting of the revenues is planned for May 2017. and for this purpose the MEE will form an initial 3 person team that will be responsible for management of the funds and provision of the planned shared services. The team will consist of a Coordinator, a Financial expert and a Marketing expert.

The purpose of this ToR is defining responsibilities, scope of work, qualifications and competences of a Coordinator within the team that will manage the Joint fund for Parks of Croatia (further in the text Fund).

Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultant is expected to provide general technical and advisory support for all activities of the Fund. She or he will play a critical role in the implementation of the defined priority projects, ensuring proper cooperation among the partners and a full and transparent process of communication between Nature Protection Directorate of the MEE (MEE-NPD) representatives, the PIs and other stakeholders.

The Consultant will also work closely with Directors of PIs on provision of technical advice and support, ensuring that PARCS project objectives planned as a kind of a ‘shared service center’ (SSC) are met.

The Consultant is expected to perform the following tasks:

Provide technical guidance for joint activities and priority projects including reporting, contract management, financial and administrative aspects;
Support of the delivery of quality joint activities and projects outputs through preparation of annual work plans, including budgets;
Consult the team of experts within the team that manages the Fund and is responsible for implementation of joint activities and projects;
Plan the joint activities and projects and monitor progress against the approved work-plan and budget;
Monitor and track joint activities and project’s progress and handle any issues that arise;
Liaise closely and interact with PIs/PARCS PIU/MEE/MEE-NPD in generating the pipeline of the joint activities and project proposals (requirements, scope and objectives);
Provide technical inputs to project proposals, timeframes, schedule and budget;
Provide technical advice and support to PIs in development and management (including financial management) of various projects (proposals/applications/contract management and reporting) for EU funds and other International Financing Institutions or Croatian government financing projects;
Work on identification of funding opportunities under each of the relevant key EU funds and other appropriate financial instruments suitable for financing PIs projects;
Act as the point of contact and communicate joint activities and projects status adequately to all participants;
Assists in the planning, coordination and arrangements for successful conduction of joint events such as seminars/conferences, meetings, presentations, and others; including travel and hotel arrangements, and trip itineraries when necessary.

Deliverables and timeframe:
To carry on the joint activities, services and projects coordination, the Coordinator will be engaged on a part-time bases, up to 140 days total. The engagement is expected for 7 (seven) months of the PARCS project. The assignment is expected to start in June 2017.

The Coordinator shall participate in preparation of periodic reports and also submit monthly reports (time sheet) that will include a brief summary of work undertaken for each day of the reported period. The reports will be submitted in Croatian in 2 copies to be approved by the PARCS PM and MEE-NPD Assistant Minister.

Two weeks before the scheduled close of the assignment, the Coordinator will prepare a Final Report, which summarizes the work of the Coordinator and sets out details of the future work schedules. The report will be prepared in English and Croatian.
For her or his engagement the Coordinator will receive a remuneration based on a daily fee.

Supervision and monitoring:
The Coordinator will report to the PARCS Project Manager and MEE-NPD Assistant Minister. She or he will periodically report to inter MEE-NPD coordination meeting composed of the MEE-NPD Assistant Minister and Heads of the participating NPD departments or their delegated representatives.

At least one meeting a month in person with the PARCS project manager is expected.
PARCS project team members will be closely associated to the discussion with the Expert and review of draft and final products, through regular communication.

Competencies

Functional competencies:

Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities.
Excellent public speaking and presentation skills.
Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback.
Excellent analytical, management and communication skills.
Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations
Good knowledge of MS Office applications including Outlook, Word and Excel

Corporate competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment
Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills, ability to work in a team.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education:

At least Master’s degree in Economy, or Management, or Natural sciences;
Postgraduate degree in Economy or Management or Natural sciences is an asset.

Experience:

At least 5 years of professional experience in the senior role (e.g. team leader / project coordinator / specialist / project adviser or similar);
Experience in working with Croatian Public Institutions for management of national parks and nature parks will be considered as an advantage;
Experience with UNDP, IBRD, EIB and/or other large International Organization is considered as an advantage;
Project management experience on sizable, multiannual, development-assistance (GEF funded or similar) projects is an asset;
Experience in programming, preparation and/or implementation of EU projects and experience in working with the EU funds would be an advantage;
Familiarity with the PARCS project, its objectives, major challenges for their successful fulfilment, its implementation context and history, as well as already established contacts with the key project stakeholders is considered as an asset.

Language skills:

Proficient user in Croatian and English (equivalent to C1 or C2 as per Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).

Evaluation of Applicants:
Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal.
The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical (P11 desk reviews and interviews) and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only candidates who will get at least 70% of points in each step of the process (desk review and interviews) can be considered for financial evaluation.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 70/100 points, as follows:

Criteria A - max points: 10 - Relevance of the professional experience in the senior role (e.g. team leader / project coordinator / specialist / project adviser or similar);
Criteria B – max points: 10 - Experience in working with Croatian Public Institutions for management of national parks and nature parks;
Criteria C – max points: 10 - Experience with UNDP, IBRD, EIB and/or other large International Organizations;
Criteria D – max points: 10 - Project management experience on sizable, multiannual, development-assistance (GEF funded or similar) projects;
Criteria E – max points: 5 - Experience in programming, preparation and/or implementation of EU projects and experience in working with the EU funds;
Criteria F – max points: 5 - Postgraduate degree in Economy or Management or Natural sciences;
Criteria G – max points: 15 - Interviews (motivation; communication; interpersonal skills; presentational skills);
Criteria H – max points: 5 - Interviews (familiarity with the PARCS project, its objectives, major challenges for their successful fulfilment, its implementation context and history, as well as already established contacts with the key project stakeholders).

Financial criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 30/100 points

Application procedures:
Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:

Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application.
Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from
http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc) please upload the P11 instead of your CV.
Financial Proposal* in USD - specifying a) daily fee amount for the tasks specified in this announcement and b) travel to join the duty station/repatriation travel.
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials

*Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, vaccination, personal security needs and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...). All travel to join duty station/repatriation travel must be included in the financial proposal.

Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.

Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org
General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://on.undp.org/t7fJs.

Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.
Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.